The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1887-10-08
A HEROIC NUN.
y.
WHY the Cross Of the Legion of Honor
was BcstoTed on Mother Teresa.
Blonklsn Eagle.

Blonklsn Eagle. l.
Tn presence of all the French troops 5
guarding the capital Of Tonquin the
Governor General recently bestowed I
the cross Of the Legion of Honor on a ;
nun. Mother Mary Teresa, superioress
of the Sisters of CharityCin that en-
pire. The troops were drawn up in
/ the principal plaza of the city, in a
square surrounding a platform on
which were the Governor General and
his staff. When an aide Ade-camp was
isent to bring the fun he found her in
the hospital consoling soldier who
was having his leg amputated. She
refused to leave the bedside until the .
operation was completed, and then fol- |
! lowed the officer to the square, where
shs vas received BY the General in
person and led up to the platform
amid the joyful exclamations of the
soldiers. The General then command
ed silence, and in solemn and i'm
pressive tone addressed her as follows:
"Mother Mary Teresa, when you
, were 20 years Of age You received a
wound from cannon ball while assist
ING one Of the wounded on the field Of
Bataklaya. I'm 1850 the shell from a
| mitrailleuse laid you PROSTATE in the
5 front rank on the battlefield Of Ma
oenta. Since then you have been. in
SerSa: in China and in Mexico, and if
: YOU we're not wounded it was not be-
t cause YOU have not exposed yourself to
n the shot Of gun and cannon and the
e sabres and lances of the enemy. In
? 1870 YOU were taken up in Reischotfen
covered with many sabre wounds
: among a heap Of cuirassiers. Such
d deeds of heroism you have crowned a
j. few weeks ago with lone of the most
r, heroic actions which history. records.
A grenade fell upon the ambulance
which was under your charge. 1t did
V not burst, but it might have done SO at
is any momentand caused new wounds
r in the bodies Of those who were already
is wounded; but there you were-yor
:, took up the grenade in your arms, yol
= smiled upon the wounded, who loeket
e. upon with feelings of dismay, not to-
* themselves, but for you, and carried I
o. away to distance of eighty metres
lon LAYING it down you noticed that !
4Iwas going to burst; you threw yoursel
" on the ground; it burst; you you wer
r. seen covered with blood, but whel
lie persons came to your assistance yo'
nv Irose UP smiling, as is your wont, AM
or said, That is nothingp. You are scarce
ly recovered from your woilnd, an
you return to the hospital whence
have Just now summoned you"
ea During these words OF praise tn
at good nun held her head modestly ca
he down, with her eyes fixed ON her crl
cifix, that hung by her side. Then tn
70 General made her kneel down, a
at drawing his sword fouche1 her light
OF with it three tines on tbs shoulder al
= pinned the Gross of the Legion
ah Honor on her habit, saying with
~ ~ quieting voice: !,
" 81 put upon you the cross OIL u
ne brave, in the name Of the French Pc
ere pie and army; no one has gained It
lInlg more deeds OF heroism, nor by lie
'ne completely spent in self -abnegatlon t
% the benefit Of your brothers and. Il
IN III service of your country. Soldier
''0 present armsp'
The troops saluted, the drums az
bugles sang out, the air was filled W, =,
ub- loud explanations and all was lubll
mas ton and excitement, as Mother Ma
IS Teresa rose up, her face suffused WI
Tres bushes, and asked: General, ha
lolc you. finished with me?"
my eyes" said he.
sed "Well, then am going back TO
esa wounded soldier III the hospital!